4 airports try lower-hassle security screening

4 airports try lower-hassle security screening

October 5th, 2011 in News

ATLANTA (AP) - Four major U.S. airports have begun a test of whether passengers who disclose more personal information can get through security lines with fewer hassles.

The "PreCheck" program represents an attempt to move away from a one-size-fits-all security approach. It comes after a public backlash last year over the U.S. Transportation Security Administration's pat-downs for passengers who refused to step inside full-body scanners.

The new pilot program requires a basic trade-off. Passengers must allow the sharing of their personal information with the TSA so they can be pre-screened before arriving at the airport. In return, passengers get a chance - not a guarantee - that they will be ushered into specialized security lines where they might not need to remove their shoes, belts or light coats and can keep laptop computers in their travel bags.

So far, the pilot program involves a few thousand passengers at airports in Atlanta, Detroit, Dallas-Fort Worth and Miami.